How to Date an Alien by Magan Vernon Page B

fell in line beside him
and whispered something, trying not to look my way.
    Riley flipped a stray strand of hair behind
her ear, glancing back at the other interns who were pretending not
to listen. She locked her eyes back on me and leaned in to whisper,
"Look, I didn't realize what I was getting into either when I
applied for this internship. But I know one thing is for sure, if
you don't stay away from that Ace guy as much as you can, it could
end really badly."
    "That doesn't make any sense. Why would a
whole unit bow down to him like that?" I questioned.
    She shrugged. "He's either got some sort of
alien mind control or he's just more powerful than either of us
realize."
    I shook my head. "Riley why are you telling
me this? You don't even really like me."
    She smirked, wrinkling her little nose. "Of
course I like you, Alex. And I don't want anything bad to happen to
you or any of the other interns. After all, you are the girl that
got attacked for giving a thumbs up on the first day. Wouldn't want
something like that to happen again."
    "Well, I guess I can understand that."
    "Good." Her smirk turned into a weak attempt
at a smile "I'm glad we have an understanding. Now let's bowl."
    I followed Riley back toward the rest of the
group, but couldn't help glancing over my shoulder at the door,
still hoping that there was someone else waiting for me. No matter
how he was classified.

Chapter
12
     
    The rest of the night went by in a blur.
Gavin wouldn't speak to me, and I would catch him glaring at me
whenever he got the chance. I didn't understand why he seemed to
have so much contempt for aliens, but accepted an internship at an
alien operations center.
    Jen kept assuring me that it was nothing and
he was just jealous and a little buzzed, so I should ignore him and
have some fun. But how could I have any fun when I spent the whole
night either worried about what Riley and Gavin were whispering or
constantly looking toward the door to see if Ace would walk through
it?
    I tried to ask Malcolm and Justin if what
Riley and Gavin said about Ace was true, but they acted just as
confused as I was. Justin kept throwing around ideas that were
really nothing more than gossip, but I knew that wasn't the answer.
No one knew any more about Ace's classification or why he was so
persistent to have us work together, but once I got back to Circe I
knew exactly where to get my answers.
    “We’re going to hang out in the boys' room
for awhile and watch some TV. Do you want to come?" Jen asked as we
slid out of the Jeep. She and Malcolm probably had the least to
drink, but she was still wobbly on her heels. Why a girl as tall as
her felt the need to wear heels to a bowling alley was beyond
me.
    “No, it’s fine. I’m just going to the
security office to check my e-mail and then I'll probably head to
bed. It’s been a long day." I yawned and stretched my arms over my
head, hoping that she wouldn’t catch me in my lie.
    “Yeah, I guess it’s been a pretty interesting
night for you with all that Ace stuff." She looked over her
shoulder at the group of interns talking, and then back at me.
“Look, I know what they’re saying about Ace is true, but I don’t
think he’d ever hurt you. I think Gavin is just being a jealous boy
or whatever.”
    I shrugged. “Yeah I’m not too worried about
it.”
    Really, I was a nervous wreck and wanted to
get to the bottom of it. I was hoping that by confronting Ace he
wouldn’t try and kill me right then and there, but that was a
chance I was willing to take. I knew if I didn't then, it would
just mull in my head for the rest of the night and possibly the
rest of the week until I got to the bottom of it. If I was really
falling for this alien, I needed to know if he was dangerous.
    I watched as everyone walked down the hall to
the boys' room and waited a few minutes so I knew that they
wouldn’t follow me. I had looked in the computer system for where
Ace’s room was and knew it might take me